Formnext Frankfurt – The leading international trade fair for additive manufacturing and industrial production

Innovation meets manufacturing expertise: Formnext as a key platform

Formnext in Frankfurt is considered the world's leading trade fair for additive manufacturing and the next generation of industrial production. It brings together manufacturers, suppliers, application experts, machine builders, materials scientists, and product developers – across industry boundaries. Its profile: highly innovative, practical, and strategically relevant. At a time when traditional production processes are being expanded, supplemented, or replaced by digital technologies, Formnext shows how value chains can be transformed—more efficiently, more resource-efficiently, and more tailor-made. With a clear focus on industrial applications and technological progress, the trade fair is increasingly becoming a platform for complete manufacturing solutions, from prototyping to series production.

Additive manufacturing as an integral part of industry

The trade fair focuses on 3D printing technologies in all relevant processes: metal, plastic, ceramics, and multi-material systems. On display are high-precision systems for industrial applications, software solutions for design and simulation, material innovations, and post-processing and quality assurance techniques. Formnext is therefore not just a machine trade fair – it represents the entire additive manufacturing ecosystem. Particular focus will be placed on interfaces with traditional manufacturing, digitalization, automation, sustainability, and the integration of additive processes into existing production lines. Anyone interested in other trade fairs in Frankfurt will find a broad overview of trade events in industry, technology, design, and research at Frankfurt Trade Fair.

Cross-industry meeting place

What makes Formnext special is its cross-disciplinary relevance. Whether in aerospace, medical technology, the automotive industry, mechanical engineering, architecture, or electronics—additive manufacturing is no longer limited to niche applications. It has become a strategic tool for innovation, customization, and process optimization. The trade fair brings together developers and decision-makers, start-ups and corporate representatives, scientists and production planners. Many collaborations, research projects, and pilot applications originate here – often across traditional industry and national boundaries.

Supporting program: Knowledge transfer and strategy dialogue

The trade fair is accompanied by an extensive conference and forum program. Current developments are discussed in specialist presentations, panels, live demonstrations, and practical reports – such as new material developments, economic scalability, regulatory frameworks, and innovative business models. Special attention will also be paid to the topic of standardization and certification, which plays a key role in the industrialization of additive processes. In addition, trends such as “digital twins,” “distributed manufacturing,” and AI-supported design will be examined in depth.

Sustainability and resource efficiency

Additive manufacturing is considered a beacon of hope in the context of sustainable production: material savings through generative design, reduction of transport routes through decentralized manufacturing, reparability instead of replacement production—all these are concrete levers that will be visible at Formnext with real projects and technologies. Many exhibitors will show how they are extending life cycles, reducing production waste, and developing energy-efficient processes. Sustainability is not seen as an add-on, but as a central component of modern manufacturing strategies.

Young companies and high-tech impulses

An integral part of Formnext is the Start-up Area, where young companies present their solutions – often in the fields of software, lightweight construction, medtech, or materials science. The exchange with industry partners, investors, and universities provides a productive environment for fresh ideas and disruptive approaches. Universities, research institutions, and international networks are also represented with their own stands and contributions. In this way, the trade fair promotes not only technology transfer, but also young talent in the industry and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Frankfurt as a location advantage

With its location in Frankfurt, Formnext is optimally positioned: excellent accessibility, strong economic integration, and an established trade fair environment. For international exhibitors and visitors, the Main metropolis is not only logistically attractive—it also offers the opportunity to hold meetings, demos, and business development at a professional level. At the same time, the central location strengthens the international profile of the trade fair—with exhibitors from over 35 countries and an audience that spans the entire manufacturing world.

A glimpse into the future of production

Formnext shows that additive manufacturing is more than just a manufacturing process – it is a driver of industrial change. Anyone involved in future technologies in production cannot afford to miss this trade fair. It is not just a place for exhibiting, but also for designing: the factory of tomorrow, the product of the day after tomorrow, the material of the next generation. Further information can be found on the organizer's website: formnext.mesago.com